The Anchorage Daily News reports that twin 55-year-old brothers Jerry and Terry Humphrey of Negley, Ohio, fell to their deaths after summiting McKinley.
The twins were not troped together and it is believed one may have fallen into the other. Jerry’s son was also on the mountain soloing and had spoken to his father who said they had summited.
Their bodies were just below Denali Pass. A rescue team from the Air National Guard’s 212th Rescue Squadron, who were also camped at 17,200 feet, traversed to the bodies and prepared them to be taken off the mountain. A high-altitude helicopter brought the bodies to base camp.
Since 1980, six people have fallen and died an icy traverse from Denali Pass to a small basin at 17,200 feet where most climbers make high camp.
Before he left for Alaska, Terry told his wife not to worry, Fair said. He told her, “If something happens to me, just remember that I’m doing what I want to do.”
More info and links:
http://americasroof.com/wp/archives/2005/05/12/twins-in-fatal-denali-pass-fall/
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